Device for increasing the efficiency of internal-combustion engines



July 6, 1926. I 1,591,489

E. JOHNSON DEVICE FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. '7, 1922 Fig.1.

ugmllfllll j lnvenTor.

EloF do hns on WW W Aflys.

Patented July 6, 192% FATENT OFFICE.

ELOF JOHNSON, 0F BEGOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed October 7, 1922. Serial No. 593,038.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for selectively introducing different fluids, either liquid or aeriform, into the intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, and the object thereof is to provide a convenient device by means of which a suitable selected fluid may be thus introduced into the intake of the engine for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the engine.

More specifically one of the objects of the invention is to produce a device which may be utilized selectively to aid in obtaining perfect-combustion of the fuel by the admission of humidified air into the cylinder of the engine and which also may be employed to keep the engine free of carbon deposits and to aid in removing the carbon deposits from the walls of the cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which can be selectively arranged to provide means for priming the engine for starting purposes, or for accelerating the speed, or controlling the character of the eX- plosive mixture admitted to the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient and inexpensive device of the character above described which vmay be readily applied to any of the usual types of internal combustion engines such, for example, as the engine of an automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for controlling the adjustment of the valves which regulate the delivery of the selected fluid or fluids to the intake of the engine.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is conventionally illustrated herein as applied to an automobile engine.

In the drawings:

F 1 is a conventional illustration of the invention applied to an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of'the fluid-containing reservoir, the inlet pipe for the air and outlet conduits for the fluid being'shown in elevation; j 1

Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the fluid-con taining reservoir comprising also a receptacleto contain'a :liquidfldiffering from the liquid contained in the main body of the reservoir Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view on line l l Fig. 2 of the portion of the conduits through which the fluid from the reservoir is conducted from the reservoir and also showing in elevation a broken away section of the conduit or tube leading therefrom to the intake of the engine; and,

Fig. 5 is an underneath plan view of a plate adapted to be mounted uponthe instrument board of the automobile, showing means for controlling the adjustment of the valves which regulate the supply of fluid to the engine intake; Fig. 6 is a detail of the connection to the manifold.

It is well known that internal combustion engines may be operated more efficiently especially in dry weather by supplying humidified or moisture-laden atmosphere to the intake of the engine. It is also well known that by introducing certain liquids, such as, water or kerosene in greater or less volume, into the intake of the engine the carbon formed in the combustion chamber will be reduced, or Where deposited upon the walls of the cylinder will be softenedand conveniently removed therefrom.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means adapted to be controlled by the operator of the engine which may be employed selectively to introduce either humidified air or water, or both, into the manifold of the engine in proper proportion to maintain the highest efficiency and prevent carbon deposits or to remove carbon deposits previously made. This is accomplished in the pre ferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 by providing a reservoir 1, preferably in the form of a cylindrical container, which is supported upon suitable brackets 2 and 3 upon the dash of the engine, or in any other suitable manner,'at a convenient distance from the intake of the engine, and providing a conduit or conduits leading from said reservoir to the intake or manifold of the engine adapted to deliver the selected fluid to said intake.

iii)

The reservoir 1 desirably is partially filled V with a suitable liquid 4, such as fwater, and is provided with an air inlet. 5 leadmg through the wall of the reservoir above the level of the liquid-downwardly into the ill lit

liquid and terminating in a substantially horizontal portion 6 located well beneath the level of the liquid and preferably approximately at the bottom of the reservoir, and provided with a series of apertures 7 through which the air may be drawn upwardly through the liquid into the upper portion of the reservoir by the suction of the engine.

The reservoir 1 preferably is provided with a. removable cover 8 which may be screwed .or otherwise fastened upon the upper end of the'wall of the reservoir. The cover 8 provided with one or preferably two upwardly extending hollow bosses 9 and 10 which are provided respectively with screw threaded caps 11 and 12 which hermetically close the apertures in said bosses. The reservoir and its cover may be made of sheet metal construction in the usual manner. i The reservoir is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending Conduits 18 and 1st which desirably are cast integral with a head 15 having ducts 16 and 17 which lead to a common delivery outlet 18 which is connected by a nipple 19 with a pipe 20 which leads to theintakeor manifold 21 of the engine. The ducts l6 and 17 are eounterbored to provide valve seats 22 and 23 for valves 24: and 25 which are located when seated between the upwardly extending portions 151 and 14 of the conduits and the ducts 16 and 1? respectively.

' The valves 2% and 25 are provided with suitable valve stems 26 and 27 to. which are connected suitable rods 28 and 29 extending through the dash board and instrument board of the automobile and are provided with suitable knobs 30 and 30* by which they may be manipulated. The valves 2- and 25 are normally held in their seats by helical springs iil and 32 which are interposed between the respective valves and screw threaded plugs 38 and S t seated in the endsof the counterbored portions of the head 15. I

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the sections 13 and it of the conduits are secured to and extend a short distance through the cover 8 of the receptacle. The lower ends of. the walls of the conduits and 14V desirably are internally threaded and a pipe 35, which is de taehablyscrewed into the conduit section 13, extends below the surface of the liquid at preferably to a point adjacent the bottom of the reservoir.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the valve 2st. which controls the duct leading from the conduit 14L, may be. opened by pulling upon the knob 30 so that the suction the engine will draw the air fronrthe upper portion of the reservoir.

The eidiaustionof air from the upper porti n is their. we: est e a Pa a ia-m 11. 91 sates elit be dra .th e sh the inlet pipe 5 and delivered lnto the tank through the apertures T from which it rises through the liquid in the reservoir and becomes more or less charged with the vapor of the liquid. When the reservoir contains water this humidified air is progressively drawn through the conduit l l, duct 17 and conduit 20 into the intake of the engine, thereby increasing the moisture content of the charge and providing a more ellicient e);- plosive mixture.

If it is desired to introduce water directly into the engine intake the valve may be withdrawn so that the suction of the engine will draw water from the reservoir through the conduit 13, the duct 16 into the pipe or conduit 20 which will deliver it directly into the engine intake. Thus a suliicient amount of water may be introduced into the engine to reduce or remove the carbon deposit.

The valves 2t and 25 may thus be manipulated either to supply only humidified air or only water to the'engine'intake, or to sup ply a limited amount of air and a limited amount of water to the engine intake as may be desired.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a novel frictional device for controlling the adjustment of the valves 2:1: and I prov'ded which has a narrow marginal flange 37 extending downwardly from its under face. The rods 28 and 29, which are connected respectively to the valve stems 2(5 and 27, extend through this plate and are engaged by hooked end portions 38 and 39 of a spring 410 which is coiled around a suitable stud or screw l1 by means of which the plate is secured to the instrument board. The hooked end portions of these springs serve to retain the rods at any desired adjustment so that the valves 24; and 25 may be properly positioned to regulate the desired amount of vapor-laden air or liquid supplied to the engine.

lVhile the apparatus has been described as adapted to supply humidified air and water to the engine intake it may, of course, be utilized to supply other liquids and rapors; for example, a high grade fuel such as pure gasoline may be placed in a. tank and either the vapor thereof: or the liquid itself supplied to the intake ofcthe engine either as a primer for starting the engine or to increase the etiiciency of the engine while running.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction illustrated in which a separate receptacle is provided for a priming fluid, such as, high grade gasoline. In this construction a receptacle 42, preferably of sheetmetal, is provided having a flange t3 which is detachably secured by screws 44 to the under face of the cover 8, Theupper end of the receptacle encloses "the end of'tlie portion As illustrated herein a plate 36 is Hill of the conduit. and a pipe at, which screwed into the' conduit 14, extends beneath the level of the liquid 46 in said receptacle preferably to a point adjacent the bottom tuting the pipe l7, illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, water or other suitable liquid may be directly introduced into the manifold for the purpose of removing carbon in the manner above described.

It will, therefore, be observed that the invention may be adapted selectively to deliver various fluids to the intake ofvthe engine and that such fluids may be either a priming fluid, an aeriform fluid comprising the vapor of aseleoted liquid, or the liquid itself. Thus the invention may be employed to increase the efficiency of the engine by adding moisture to the charge, or may be employed to reduce and remove the carbon from the combustion chamber of the engine, or may be used to prime the engine for starting, or to supply a high grade fuel to increase the efliciency of the engine while running. V

In order to assist in breaking up or atom- 'izing the liquid drawn into the manifold it is desirable that the pipe connection protruding into the manifold shall be provided with a spray nozzle such as shown for example in Figure 6. This figure shows in an enlarged detail a nozzle 18 to which thepipe 20 is con nected and which is screwed into the wall of the manifold 21 and carries at its inner end the spray head 19.

The tank 1 may be provided if desired at the bottom with a suitable means for draining or cleaning out the reservoir. purpose there is illustrated an outlet pipe 50 in the bottom wall of the tank. A valve member 51 is threaded into the pipe 5 0 and is movable to open and close the passageway from the tank into the pipe 50 and out through a drainage opening 52 in the side of the pipe.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive and that various changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y

1. A device operable selectively to supply difl'erent fluids to the intake of an internal combustion engine by inspiration, compris- For that ing a closed reservoir p'artially'filled with waterpani air-inlet leading into said ieser voir in proximity to'the bottom thereof and below the level of said water, conduits leading respectively from below and above the i level of saidliquid and communicating with asingle pipe lead ng to sa d engine intake and valves in said conduits operable respectively to permit the delivery of Water or humiiied air to said engine intake.

2. Axlevice operable selectively to supply different fluids to the intake of an internal comlmstionengine by inspiration, compris- I ing a plurality of conduits, one of said'con- V duits including a'pipe section extending below the level of th liquid in said reservoir and removably mounted in said cover and valves in said conduits operable respectively to permit the delivery of liquid or air containing the vapor of said liquid to said intake.

8. A device operable selectively to supply different fluids to the intake of an internal combustion engine by inspiration, comprising a reservoir partially filled with water and a receptacle within said reservoir containing a combustible liquid, means for introducing air into said reservoir below th level of said water, a cover removably secured to the top of said reservoir, a plurality of conduits mounted on said cover communicating with said reservoir and leading to the intake of the engine, said conduits comprising respectively detachable sections or pipes located within said reservoir adapted to be selectively arranged to extend beneath the level of the water or beneath the level of the combustible liquid in said receptacle or when removed to communicate with the reservoir above the level of the water.

A. A device operable selectively to supply different fluids to the intake of an internal ing a reservoir partially filled with water and a receptacle removably mounted in said reservoir containing a combustible liquid, means for introducing air into said reservoir below the level of said water, a cover removably secured'to the top of said reservoir, a plurality of conduits mounted on combustion engine by inspiration, compris-;

different fluids to the intake of an internal combustion engine by inspiration, comprising a closed reservoir having portions containing the respective fluids, conduits leading respectively from the portions of said reservoir containing said different fluids and communicating with the intake of the engine, valves in said conduits, rods connected to said valves extending through a fixed support, manually operable means for reciprocating said rods'and a spring having portions frictionally engaging said rods acting to retain the same in adjusted position.

.(i. A device operable selectively to supply ing a reservoir to receive a liquid, means for introducing air into said reservoir below the level of the liquid therein, a cover removably secured to the top of the reservoir, a plurality of conduits mounted on said cover communicating with said reservoir and leading to the intake of the engine, said conduits comprising a detachable pipe section located within the reservoir to extend beneath the level of the water therein and valves in said conduits operable respectively to control the fluid delivered therethrough to the intake of the engine.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ELOF JOHNSON. 

